35 perish in flash floods in HP

At least 35 labourers, mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, were killed and 22 injured in flash floods triggered by a cloudburst at a power project in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh early this morning.

At least 35 labourers, mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, were killed and 22 injured in flash floods triggered by a cloudburst at a power project in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh earlyon Wednesdaymorning.

The death toll could rise as many people were feared to have either been washed away or buried under the mudslides by the heavy downpour which lashed Shillagarh village in Gadsa area.

State Director-General of Police A K Suri said as per information gathered by police, the number of dead was unlikely to execeed 35.

So far, 19 bodies had been recovered and over dozen persons were reportedly missing

Chief Minister V B Singh said earlier in the day that 250 labourers were working at the site at the time of the cloudburst and the death toll could be more than 100.

Singh, however, later said "there are very very contradictory reports about how many people were there." The labourers were working for three different contractors, he said.

But the contractors were unable to give the exact number of labourers working at the site when the tragedy struck.

Rescue and search operations by 450 ITBP, Police and home guard personnel had to be called off due to bad light and heavy rains.